Inductees

Ask golf maestro Tom Watson for his favorite victory, and the assumption is that it would be one of his eight major championships, right? Possibly one of the British Opens. Maybe a Master’s. Perhaps that thrilling U.S. Open back in the day.

However, breaking into his friendly Midwestern smile, Watson eased back and threw a surprise.

“I was 14 years old and playing in the Kansas City Men’s Match Play at the urging of my father,” Watson said. “Lo and behold, I won it. That in itself wasn’t why it was the greatest victory. A year later, I was in the den with my mom and she got a phone call. She said, ‘Tommy, would you like to play with Arnold Palmer?’”

A year after that, the great Jack Nicklaus came calling.

“The reason this KC Match Play was my favorite victory was the fact that playing with these icons of golf gave me the dream of someday becoming a professional golfer,” Watson said.

He did – and rose to greatness – and now the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly honored Watson as a 2024 Missouri Sports Legend.

The honor means that Watson, a graduate of Pembroke Country Day School, will have a bronze bust on display on the Hall of Fame’s Legends Walkway in Springfield.

It’s a fitting honor for a golfer who won five British Opens (1975, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983), two Master’s (1977, 1981), and arguably the most dramatic U.S. Open in history (1982). His career included 39 PGA Tour wins, 14 additional wins worldwide and 14 wins on the Champions Tour, six of them majors.

Many still remember when, at age 59, he came within inches of winning a sixth British Open that would have made him the oldest golfer – by 11 years – to win a major title.

Watson was the PGA Tour Player of the Year six times and led in money earnings five years. He also thrice won the Vardon Trophy for the lowest scoring average on tour and won the season-long Schwab Cub race on the Champions Tour twice. He also is the only man to shoot at least one round of 67 or better in all four majors in four decades.

“It wasn’t work,” Watson said. “I tell people all the time, I got to play a game for a living. You get to travel and see places you never saw before. It was and still is wonderful.”

At an early age, Watson learned from his dad, who cut down a couple of golf clubs and taught him a grip. Over the years, he always tried to best his older brother. And, after his dream of becoming a big-leaguer, like Micky Mantle, faded, he turned to golf.

At Pembroke, he won state titles in 1966 and 1967 and turned pro after his senior year at Stanford in 1971.

However, it wasn’t until 1974 that Watson avoided Monday qualifiers, as he finished among the top 60 money winners in 1973.

From there, Watson roared like a lion.

He won the Master’s in 1977 and months later edged Nicklaus at Turnberry. Nicklaus began the weekend tied with Watson, shot 65-66 and lost by one shot to Watson’s 65-65. In 1982, Watson’s chip-in at Pebble Beach arguably remains the most dramatic shot in golf history.

Besides his dad, Watson’s caddie of 30 years, Bruce Edwards, KC Country Club pro Stan Thirsk and professional golfer Byron Nelson became mentors, all instrumental in his success.

“More than trying to help me with my golf swing, (Byron) showed me what kind of man he was. He had the greatest rapport with people,” Watson said. “He was probably the best ball striker ever in the game of golf.”

Watson’s philanthropy includes: Clubs for Kids, which  provided a club and a free lesson; First Tee, which teaches kids both how to play and the nine core values of life; and Watson Links, where kids and a mentor play nine holes for free. He also fundraised for Children’s Mercy Hospital in KC and for research for ALS, the terrible disease that took the life of his caddy, Bruce Edwards.

Watson had the support of his parents, Ray and Sarah, and brothers Ridge and John. He also has had support of Linda and their two children, Meg and Michael, as well as Hilary and her three children, Kyle, Kelly and Ross, and his four grandchildren.

“More than the game of golf, the relationships you make in life,” Watson said, “are what have made my life so special.”